City directories have been published for New Orleans in several different formats and by several
different publishers since before Louisiana statehood in 1812. This quick list of directories available
in the Louisiana Division is offered as an alternative to the complicated search that would be
required to identify all city directory entries in the Library's automated catalog. It does not provide
full bibliographic description, only the dates available along with some practical notes.

NOTEthat New Orleans city directories 1861-1960 have been digitized and are now available at Ancestry.com. (These are part of Ancesty.com's "U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989" database.)

The first three volumes are not city directories in the true sense but they do provide names and
addresses of at least some residents of the Crescent City for the years indicated. Library staff
will, on receipt of the appropriate fees, search the available book versions for 1805 & 1807. We do
not search the 1809 volume.

1805

1807

1809

The first "real" city directory for New Orleans was published in 1811. Publication of succeeding
volumes was irregular for several years, as indicated by the listing that follows. These directories
are available on microfiche unless indicated otherwise.

1811

1822-1824

1827 (16mm roll film)

1830 (35mm roll film)

1832

1834

1835 (16mm roll film)

1837 (16mm foll film)

1838

1841-1843

1844 (16mm roll film)

1846

1849-1859

1860 (16mm roll film) NOTE: This is a not very good microfilm. We suggest that researchers consider requesting copies from the 1861 directory as an alternative.

1861 (35mm roll film)

No city directories were published during the Civil War years (1862-1865). Publication resumed
following the war and continued as follows.

1866-1933

1935

1938 NOTE: The first directory to include cross-reference listings by street address.

1940

1942

1945-1946 (a single volume)

1947

1949

1952-1953 (a single volume)

1954-1955 (a single volume)

1956-1958

1960-1962

1964-1969

1971-1983

1985-1986

1988

1990-1991

1993

1994

1996-1997

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2007

2009 - present

In 1955, R.L. Polk began publishing a separate New Orleans Suburban directory. The division has
copies of all that have been published. In 1966, Haines & Company began publishing their
CrissCross directory. The division has copies of all that have been published.